Physiological ligands for gpr139

Abstract

Provided herein are compounds capable of activating GPR139. Also provided are methods of increasing and decreasing the activity of GPR139. Methods of using the identified compounds to modulate GPR139 activity or conditions that may be affected by GPR139 activity are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of activating GPR139 in a subject comprising:
 identifying a subject in need of GPR139 activation, and   administering an amount of one or more compounds sufficient to activate GPR139 to the subject,   
       thereby increasing the level of GPR139 activation relative to its activation level prior to administration of said one or more compounds. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said compounds is:
 3-Bromo-D-Phenylalanine,   Styryl-L-alanine,   2-Bromo-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Bromo-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Nitro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Naphthyl-L-alanine,   3-Benzothienyl-L-alanine,   1-Naphthyl-D-alanine,   (3R)-2-tert-butoxycarbony 1-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid,   2-Naphthyl-D-alanine,   2-(5-bromothienyl)-D-alanine,   4-Bromo-L-Phenylalanine,   L-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronorharman-3-carboxylic acid,   2-(5-bromothienyl)-L-alanine,   3-Methyl-D-Phenylalanine,   4-Trifluoromethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   2-Nitro-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Methyl-L-Phenylalanine,   3,4-Dichloro-L-Phenylalanine,   3,4-Dichloro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Chloro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Methyl-L-Phenylalanine,   1-Naphthyl-L-alanine,   4-Chloro-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Chloro-L-Phenylalanine,   2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Benzothienyl-D-alanine,   4-Bromo-D-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dichloro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Bromo-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Methyl-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Trifluoromethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Nitro-L-Phenylalanine,   D-2-Amino-5-phenyl-pentanoic acid,   4-Methoxy-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Iodo-D-Phenylalanine,   α-methyl-4-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dichloro-L-Phenylalanine,   3,4-Difluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   3,3-Diphenyl-L-alanine,   4-Iodo-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Cyano-L-Phenylalanine,   4-tert-Butyl-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dimethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Nitro-D-Phenylalanine,   4-Chloro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Trifluoromethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   2-Methyl-D-Phenylalanine,   d-Homo-Phenylalanine,   4-Methyl-D-Phenylalanine,   3,5-Difluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dimethyl-D-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dinitro-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Fluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Cyano-D-Phenylalanine, or   4-Fluoro-D-Phenylalanine.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said compounds is L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, tryptamine, amphetamine, D-tryptophan, D-phenylalanine or β-phenylethylamine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered locally to the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered orally or intravenously to the subject. 
     
     
         6 . A method for detecting GPR139 activation comprising, co-expressing GO2Q chimeric G-protein and GPR139 in a cell, exposing the cell or a membrane obtained from the cell to a compound, and determining whether or not GPR139 is activated by the compound. 
     
     
         7 . A method of modulating a neurological function, comprising contacting a brain cell with at least one compound that is:
 3-Bromo-D-Phenylalanine,   Styryl-L-alanine,   2-Bromo-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Bromo-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Nitro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Naphthyl-L-alanine,   3-Benzothienyl-L-alanine,   1-Naphthyl-D-alanine,   (3R)-2-tert-butoxycarbony 1-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid,   2-Naphthyl-D-alanine,   2-(5-bromothienyl)-D-alanine,   4-Bromo-L-Phenylalanine,   L-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronorharman-3-carboxylic acid,   2-(5-bromothienyl)-L-alanine,   3-Methyl-D-Phenylalanine,   4-Trifluoromethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   2-Nitro-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Methyl-L-Phenylalanine,   3,4-Dichloro-L-Phenylalanine,   3,4-Dichloro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Chloro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Methyl-L-Phenylalanine,   1-Naphthyl-L-alanine,   4-Chloro-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Chloro-L-Phenylalanine,   2,3,4,5,6-Pentafluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Benzothienyl-D-alanine,   4-Bromo-D-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dichloro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Bromo-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Methyl-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Trifluoromethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Nitro-L-Phenylalanine,   D-2-Amino-5-phenyl-pentanoic acid,   4-Methoxy-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Iodo-D-Phenylalanine,   α-methyl-4-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dichloro-L-Phenylalanine,   3,4-Difluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   3,3-Diphenyl-L-alanine,   4-Iodo-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Cyano-L-Phenylalanine,   4-tert-Butyl-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Fluoro-L-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dimethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   4-Nitro-D-Phenylalanine,   4-Chloro-D-Phenylalanine,   2-Trifluoromethyl-L-Phenylalanine,   2-Methyl-D-Phenylalanine,   d-Homo-Phenylalanine,   4-Methyl-D-Phenylalanine,   3,5-Difluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dimethyl-D-Phenylalanine,   2,4-Dinitro-L-Phenylalanine,   3-Fluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   3-Cyano-D-Phenylalanine, or   4-Fluoro-D-Phenylalanine,   and thereby increasing the level of GPR139 activation in the cell.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one compound is L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, tryptamine, amphetamine, D-tryptophan, D-phenylalanine or β-phenylethylamine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compound is administered locally to a subject having a neuronal cell. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compound is administered orally or intravenously to a subject having a neuronal cell. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compound is administered locally to a subject having a neuronal cell. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compound is administered orally or intravenously to a subject having a neuronal cell.